ruby red gown by jason wu. this was the ball for the military. >> i have no greater honor than being your commander in chief. >> reporter: it had been an obama family day, malia and sasha, dad and mom. as america paid tribute. an inaugural parade that showed off the nation's talent and diversity. >> i, barack hussein obama, do solemnly swear -- >> reporter: the president's ceremonial swearing-in, witnessed by as many as a million people. >> so help me god. >> congratulations, mr. president. >> reporter: mr. obama urged cooperation, rare now in washington, to cut health care costs and the deficit. >> but we reject the belief that america must choose between caring for the generation that built this country and investing in the generation that will build its future. >> reporter: we can make progress, he said, on immigration, gay rights, climate change and school safety. a night to remember for the obamas and for the nation that re-elected the president. i'm steve handelsman, nbc news, washington. >>> president obama never used the words "democrat" or "republican" in his second in

. president obama in white tie but first lady michelle obama in a ruby red gown by jason wu. this was the ball for the military. >> i have no greater honor than being your commander in chief. >> reporter: it had been an obama family day. malia and sasha, dad and mom. as america paid tribute. an inaugural parade that showed off the nation's talent and diversity. >> i, barack hussein obama, do solemnly swear. >> reporter: the presidential's ceremonial swearing-in witnessed by as many as 1 million people. >> congratulations, mr. obama. >> reporter: mr. obama urged cooperation, rare now in washington, to cut health care costs and the deficit. >> but we reject the belief that america must choose between caring for the generation that built this country and investing in the generation that will buildi its future. >> reporter: we can make progress, he said, on immigration, gay rights, climate change and school safety. a night to remember for the obamas and for the nation that re-elected the president. i'm steve handelsman, nbc news, washington. >>> president obama never used the words "democrat"

beginning of the second term, jason wu's second term. over the pan of 18 minutes, president obama made his vision of his second term crystal clear, making mentions of past civil rights struggles on that martin luther king day, seneca falls, selma, stonewall and laying out his vision for the future, advancing gay rights, tolerance toward illegal immigrants, social welfare programs and stopping climate change. dan loathian was there watching it all with us. dan, friend and foe alike have been calling this a muscular speech. >> reporter: it really was according to those who got a chance to witness the speech. the president delivering his remarks in a much more different climate than he faced four years ago when you had two wars, there was the economic crisis. this time, the president laid out a progressive agenda for the next four years. and so it began, the second inaugural ceremony of president obama, part campaign speech, part lecture, a confident president obama appeared comfortable in his skin. >> my fellow americans, we're made for this moment and we'll seize it as long as we seize it t

had chosen jason wu yet again to design the inaugural gown. next, the inaugural ball, where 30,000 people expected to attend. this inaugural ball follows on a tradition started in 2009 to open up these events to every-day americans. a ticket cost as little as $60 and got people an amazing lineup to entertainers ♪ obama on fire >> reporter: alisha keys tweaked a rendition of her famous song. brad paisley brought the country. ♪ >> reporter: and stevie wonder rocked down the house, while jamie fox serenaded the bidens. ♪ i can't stop loving you ♪ >> there was also a special performance by mexico's hottest rock band. >> i'm here with mena, whippers of multiple grammies and latin grammys, amlex, you have supported president obama. so many hispanic americans came out for him. why do you think that happened? >> it's very easy. obama and the democrats had the best option for the latinos. immigration reform on the table. the dream act. latino -- the latinos here in the united states are so powerful, and their voice needs to be heard. they need to be treated as first class citizens.

michelle obama in that red hot dress. ooohhhwee, baby. alina cho is here with me. it was jason wu. she chose him as her designer last time around. >> unbelievable. >> very unusual to make the second choice. >> very young. >> he's 30. >> 26 the fit time. i had to check his bio again. are you serious, he's only 30. >> but he is. >> he's got a lot more to accomplish. >> there's nobody in this business who knows more about fashion than you. it's amazing. this girl hears a name and she can rattle off the bio of the designer. >> i spoke to him on cnn an hour ago. ashleigh, the one thing he talked about that was interesting was what was so striking about the goun, the color. the ruby red is what he likes to call it. mixture of chiffon and velvet. he says the reason why he chose that color, because sometimes a design does begin with that, right, was because he felt after four years of watching the first lady and her style and how she's evolved, that the country, not just her, but the country was ready for a confident first lady. >> i never get it. red is that much of a statement. >> it is. i h

. >> reporter: in a dress designed by jason wu the first lady dazzled at the commander in chief's ball. ♪ i'm so in love with you ♪ >> reporter: where she took the first dance with her husband as jennifer hudson sang. early president obama told the ball goers why the day was remark remarkable. >> today we experience the majesty of our democracy, a ritual only possible in a form of government that is of and by and for the people. >> reporter: in his inaugural address he intends to operate more boldly in his second term. he put aside calls for bipartisanship and sent republicans a message, the election was an affirmation of his view of government. >> the commitments we make to each other through medicare and medicaid and social security, these things do not zap our initiative. they strengthen us. they do not make us a nation of takers. they free us to take the risks that make this country great. >> reporter: and as the white house and republicans prepare to debate ways to cut the deficit, he was adam ant. >> we reject the belief that america must choose between caring for the generat

. >>> the first lady wows in jason wu. it's time for the poli-side bar. she chose another dress by the young designer to wear. this time a ruby red chiffon and velvet gown. the first couple danced al green performed by jennifer hudson. the first lated tweeted about that touching moment saying just dance to let's stay together with the love of my life and the president of the united states. i'm so proud of barack. m.o. jason wu tweeted too. in shock. militia obama was caught making a facial gesture while house speaker boehner was chatting with the president. that conversation might have had something to do with the length of the president's remarks. the speaker said he agreed he should keep it quick. >>> president obama in his inaugural address that millions had watched made what some have called the most important gay rights speech in u.s. history. >> our journey is not complete until our gay brothers and sisters are treated like anyone else under the law. for, if we are truly created equal, then surely the love we commit to one another must be equal as well. >> my next guest is no stranger

no element of surprise. >> one final question i have to ask you, jason wu, he designed a dress for her for the last ball, he was not well known and he became this guy that everyone wanted to wear, and he's a businessman. thom browne, is he going to be able to turn this -- is he going to be able to spread this? >> he already has. trust me. time will tell. >> these guys make tens of millions of dollars. a quick comment about erin's dress. >> i love erin's dress, i told her earlier, this is spectacular. >> i'm very honored. the guy is a creative director for elle. >> great to talk to you. >> the castro brothers will join us next. if i can remember which one is which. first, brad paisley playing right now at the commander in chief's ball. ♪ i can see this world as i go ♪ outside my southern comfort zone ♪ ♪ your bisqcuits and your gravy♪ ♪ you have fed me you have saved me billy graham and martha white ♪ ♪ i can't become a drifter and i just can't wait to pack ♪ ♪ because i know the road i leave on it will always bring me back ♪ ♪ ♪ this my tennessee home and

. the designer is jason wu. this is what they call a three-peat. he did the gown at the 2009 inaugural. he will join us live exclusively in a few moments. >> we'll have more highlights from that historical day, including how president obama is using his inaugural address as a call to action for a second term. >>> also ahead, what do you think about co-workers who show up even though they are sick? >> i don't do it that often. >> it's actually a serious story. sometimes people don't have a choice. sometimes they aren't paid for their sick days, so they have to go to work or don't get paid. so we're talking about more efforts to make sick pay mandatory. >>> and rare interviews with prince harry in afghanistan that are getting a lot of attention. he talks rather candidly and openly about opening fire on the taliban. that much talked about trip to vegas and the duchess' pregnancy. we'll hear from the prince coming up. >>> also, scary video as you've seen. the high school wrestler taking his position on the mat when a huge spotlight falls on him. fortunately, he is okay. actually, he finds

beats. he's the husband of alicia keys. and michelle obama, jason wu, red dress there. and we have this other picture. you see katy perry and john mayer looking -- they were having a good time. >> nothing going on there. >> apparently michelle obama was dancing to beyonce's big hit "single lady" and get this, they said there was a report at the party that usher and the president got into a "gangnam style" dance-off. but still no reports on who actually won. >> i hope we have pictures or video of that. >> katy perry tweeted, just left the white house. all other parties from here on out will be judged. and kelly clarkson, who performed, wrote just partied at the white house. i kid you not, michelle obama stood up and got the party started. seriously cool first lady. they had a good time. >> i'm jealous about that one. >>> check this out. remember all those boy bands? who didn't love them? new kids on the block, boyz ii men, 98 degrees, all going on tour. yes, they're all going on tour. the package tour is scheduled to kick off may 31st in connecticut. it's going to travel across the

presidential library. the dress, by jason wu, goes to the national archives for now. many first lady gowns are on exhibit at the smithsonian. >>> a new company getting ready to mine asteroids in space. deep sea industries may begin sending unmanned scout probes to asteroids as soon as 2015. larger spacecraft capable in bringing back 50 to 100-pound samples could be blasting off by 2016. the company wants to travel 31 million miles to space to mine asteroids for metals and compounds that could be used to make fuel to power spacecrafts. >>> police in chicago, refused to let a dog freeze to death after he got stuck on an icy lake michigan. poor guy. when an officer tried to rescue the guy, the nervous dog ran away. a tranquilizer calmed the dog down and they captured him. >>> coming up, live to utah to see how one superstar is turning swag into a powerful force for good. ♪ ♪ [ male announcer ] it was designed to escape the ordinary. it feels like it can escape gravity. ♪ the 2013 c-class coupe. ♪ starting at $37,800. ♪ starting at $37,800. music: "make someone happy" music: "m

for a designer. last night, the biggest prize as we all know went to jason wu, the designer of mrs. obama's inaugural gown. sound familiar? today, the fashion world got some more eye candy. more pictures of the first lady looking fabulous. think the inaugural fashion parade is over? think again. at the national prayer service, first lady michelle obama, hair back, bangs still on full display, wore a custom ivory wool dress and matching coat by a designer who was also in the running for the gown. that top honor as the world now knows went to jason wu, proving lightning does strike twice. >> the second she came out, everyone just let out the biggest scream. the whole entire studio. it was amazing. the energy was amazing. >> you had a little problem with the computer, didn't you? it was buffering at the moment. >> of course, at the moment she was about to come out. i was like no, this cannot be. >> reporter: wu skyrocketed to fame four years ago when the first lady wore his white gown to the first inaugural. that dress now sits in the smithsonian. this time, as he started to think abo

a jason wu dress. >> it was the white jason wu dress. >> many designers people didn't know. do you think that's something she takes into account, that ability she has to give somebody a name? is she trying to spread the wealth a little bit to other designers? >> yeah. i think she's very smart in that she hasn't attached her name to one particular design house. and she has also, i think, recognized that the fashion industry is not just about the giant corporations. it's about small business owners. it's about female entrepreneurs. it's about young, immigrant entrepreneurs. and that really comes through on her choices. >> she does seem to try to do a mix of the everyday designers that any of us could have access to, and some of the higher end ones as well. >> absolutely. >> it's always good to have you here. thank you so much. >> my pleasure. >>> coming up next, small town letter that made a big impression on president obama. what he wrote back right after this. miss, this seat's available. (sighs) this is too good to be true. hi. john stamos. enchantÉ this is too good to be true. d

took to the dance floor at the inaugural balls last night in a red jason wu dress. it is a big accomplishment for the designer who also made her gown four years ago. it is the first time since nancy reagan that a first lady chose the same designer for both inaugurations. the shimmery ruby halter gown was sleeveless showcasing her famous biceps. "usa today" reports jason wu's web site crashed after people started looking for the dress. >> bill: she looked fabulous last night and also during the inaugural ceremony. >> a baltimore ravens player let it out about how he really feels about the new england patriots after beating them in the afc championship. yahoo news was in the locker room when linebacker thugs went on a profanity laced tirade telling them to have fun at the pro bowl, arrogant fs. he went on to say they're the most arrogant ps in the world starting with belichick -- >> that could mean a lot of different things. >> i'm not sure i can say it. >> bill: people. >> that's it. and what that is somewhat -- now when he went after belichick it was somewhat warranted he refus